EXAM CANDIDATES:  For Information about Examination Credits. Link to details.

Florida Licensed CPAs may be eligible to place their license on a retired status. More information may be found here.

Certified Public Accounting

Certified Public Accounting

Within Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), the Division of Certified Public Accounting is responsible for the regulation of certified public accountants (CPAs) and accounting firms. The division processes applications to sit for the CPA exam, original Florida licensure applications, licensure by endorsement applications, reactivation of a delinquent or inactive CPA license, temporary permit applications, accountancy firm licensure, and continuing education reporting forms. In addition, the division provides administrative support to the Board of Accountancy. The Board consists of nine members. Seven members are licensed CPAs, and two are consumer members. The board meets approximately 10 times a year at various locations throughout the state. Meetings are open to the public.

There are currently over 36,000 Certified Public Accountants (CPA) and 5,000 CPA firms licensed in the State of Florida pursuant to Chapter 473, Florida Statutes. Certified Public Accountants provide accounting, auditing, tax, financial planning, and management consulting services.

Mission: To promote consumer protection by ensuring that certified public accountants and firms meet and adhere to the statutory requirements for licensure.

IMPORTANT: Florida Board of Accountancy Office:
Due to limited office personnel, we ask that applicants contact staff by email and reference your application number. The email address is CPA.Applications@myfloridalicense.com. If you have any questions regarding the reporting of continuing professional education please email cpa.reportingtool@myfloridalicense.com.  Please allow at least 48 hours for response time.

DBPR Online Services Account Requirement:
Pursuant to s. 473.308(3) FS, any individual, or firm, desiring to engage in the practice of public accounting must create and maintain an online account with the department, and provide an email address to serve as the primary means of contact from the department.

Getting Started with Certified Public Accounting

License Types

Certified Public Accountant

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is someone who has passed the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Uniform CPA examination, met educational, and licensure requirements in the state of Florida and have been issued a license to practice public accounting. CPAs provide accounting, auditing, tax, financial planning, and management consulting services. Florida CPA firms must be licensed and CPAs can only practice in a licensed firm.

Certified Public Accounting Firm

Certified Public Accountant firms, “CPA Firm“, practicing public accounting in Florida must be licensed. For purposes of firm licensure, practicing public accounting is defined in Florida Statute 473.302(8)(a)(b)(c):

(8)“Practice of,” “practicing public accountancy,” or “public accounting” means:
(a)Offering to perform or performing for the public one or more types of services involving the expression of an opinion on financial statements, the attestation as an expert in accountancy to the reliability or fairness of presentation of financial information, the utilization of any form of opinion or financial statements that provide a level of assurance, the utilization of any form of disclaimer of opinion which conveys an assurance of reliability as to matters not specifically disclaimed, or the expression of an opinion on the reliability of an assertion by one party for the use by a third party;
(b)Offering to perform or performing for the public one or more types of services involving the use of accounting skills, or one or more types of tax, management advisory, or consulting services, by any person who is a certified public accountant who holds an active license, issued pursuant to this chapter, or who is authorized to practice public accounting pursuant to the practice privileges granted in s. 473.3141, including the performance of such services by a certified public accountant in the employ of a person or firm; or
(c)Offering to perform or performing for the public one or more types of service involving the preparation of financial statements not included within paragraph (a), by a certified public accountant who holds an active license, issued pursuant to this chapter, or who is authorized to practice public accounting pursuant to the practice privileges granted in s. 473.3141; by a firm of certified public accountants; or by a firm in which a certified public accountant has an ownership interest, including the performance of such services in the employ of another person. The board shall adopt rules establishing standards of practice for such reports and financial statements; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to permit the board to adopt rules that have the result of prohibiting Florida certified public accountants employed by unlicensed firms from preparing financial statements as authorized by this paragraph.

CPA Firms that provide services as described in s. 473.302(8)(a)(b)(c), F.S., as listed above, must obtain a firm license. To license a multi-owner firm in an even year requires a fee of $150 (for a two-year license) and $75 in an odd year (such as 2005, 2007 and 2009) for a one-year license.

Manage My License

Name Change and Address
Firm Changes
Request Inactive Status

Licensees who no longer wish to maintain an active license can elect inactive status. CPAs who elect inactive status are not allowed to use the CPA designation nor can they practice public accounting.  If you have questions or need assistance in completing this application, please call the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395 or use our convenient contact form.

Apply Using a Printable Application.

Reactivate a Delinquent or Inactive License

Reactivating a delinquent or inactive license requires the licensee to complete penalty continuing professional education credits, plus the hours for the current period and paying the appropriate fees.

To apply for reactivation, click here.

Reinstate a Null and Void License

If an individual has made a good faith effort to renew their license but failed to comply because of illness or unusual hardship, a licensee with a null & void status may submit a letter and DBPR CPA 9 Reinstatement of Null and Void License to the Board of Accountancy requesting to reinstate their license.  If conditionally approved by the Board, the applicant will then need to satisfy the continuing education requirements.

Prior to submitting the application, please take a moment to review the Guidance and Procedures for Reinstatement of a Null and Void License.

A null & void Florida licensee, who is licensed to actively practice public accounting in another state, may apply for Licensure by Endorsement.

Null and void licensees who are not licensed in another state and who are not approved for reinstatement by the board via the process described above, must meet the current educational requirements and successfully retake the CPA examination before they will be issued a license.

Voluntary Relinquishment Request

Licensees who no longer wish to maintain a Florida CPA license can request voluntary relinquishment. Your license must be in a current, active or current, inactive status to request relinquishment. If you have questions or need assistance in completing this application, please call the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395 or use our convenient contact form.

Apply Using a Printable Application.

Renew Your License

IMPORTANT NOTICE (License Renewals):
Since 2020 the Department of Business and Professional Regulation no longer mails renewal notices. All renewal notices will be emailed to the email address on file and will include information on how to renew your license using your DBPR Online Services Account. If you do not receive a renewal notice, click here to print a blank renewal form.

For more information concerning your license’s unique requirements, please visit the relevant section below.

Firm Renewals

All firm licenses expire on December 31st of each odd year. Renewal notices will be emailed around October 1st in odd years.  All renewal notices will be emailed to the email address on file and will include information on how to renew your license using your DBPR Online Services Account. If you do not receive a renewal notice, click here to print a blank renewal form.

Once you renew, a copy of the firm’s license will be sent to the email address associated with your online account.  The Department will no longer print and mail initial, renewed, or duplicate licenses.

Licensees can now print their license by logging into their secure online account with the Department. In addition to new licenses, this process allows licensees to renew online and print the license at their convenience, as well as print duplicate licenses as needed without paying a fee.

You may print your license using your secure online account with the Department. Please log in to your DBPR Online Services account to access your account and select “Print License Certificate” to print your license.

Additionally, after you have created an online account and linked your license you may view a copy of your professional license on your mobile device using the DBPR mobile application. You may download the DBPR mobile application from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once you have installed the application, select “My License” and enter the same login and password information that you used to create your online account to view a copy of your professional license.

License Renewal Information

 Visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com to create an account or access an existing account. There you will find license and renewal information, fees and their breakouts, license relationships as well as the opportunity to update personal data, apply online for additional licenses, and renew your license. For commonly asked questions please use the “Ask Us” link at the top of the page and if you need additional assistance select the “Contact Us” link or call our Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395.

 To renew your license Active, submit your renewal request online and pay the fee of $77.50 for Corporations & Partnerships or $27.50 for Sole Proprietor Firms. If submitted after January 2, 2024, the fee will be $102.50 for Corporations & Partnerships or $52.50 for Sole Proprietor Firms.

To renew your delinquent license Active, submit your renewal request online and pay the fee of $127.50 for Corporations & Partnerships or $77.50 for Sole Proprietor Firms. Licenses will become null & void on January 3, 2024, if not renewed on or before January 2, 2024.

If you wish to mail your renewal notice, please complete the blank renewal form found here  and send it with your renewal fee payment to:

Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

If mailing, please allow additional time for processing of your renewal request.

Important Information:

Firms must renew active and cannot renew inactive.

State law requires a firm to maintain a current email address and mailing address (address of record) with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Department will use the e-mail address for official correspondence with license holders.  This includes important board information, renewal notices, service of process, etc. The Department recommends that you also keep your telephone number current.

If the firm name has changed, visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com  > Apply or Manage My License and follow the links to your professional group’s information. Do not return this renewal notice if the firm is closed or the firm name has changed.

Firms that change their structure or names must submit a new application. To change a firm name in an even year requires a fee of $150 (for a two-year license) and $75 in an odd year for a one-year license. Sole proprietor firm name changes are $50 regardless of the year of change.

All CPA firms are required to notify the division within 30 days of changes to the name, address, or telephone number of its principal place of business. The firm must also disclose the retirement or death of a co-partner, shareholder or member and the termination of the partnership, corporation, or limited liability company. The firm must also disclose whether any non-CPA owners have convictions or findings of guilt, regardless of adjudication, of a crime in any jurisdiction and judgment or settlements of civil lawsuits), or having been acted against, including denial of licensure by a court or regulatory agency and any other matters which show a lack of good moral character. Please submit this information directly to:

Division of Certified Public Accounting
240 NW 76th Drive Suite A
Gainesville, FL 32607-6635

If the firm has a compliance order with a past due payment the firm license will not be renewed until it has been made current.

Out-of-State Firms:

Pursuant to s. 473.3101, F.S., effective July 1, 2017, an out-of-state CPA firm may practice under mobility provided all are true:

  • Complies with the qualifications described in s. 473.309, F.S.
  • Is enrolled in a peer review program pursuant to s. 473.3125(4), F.S.
  • Performs services through an individual with practice privileges under s. 473.3141, F.S.
  • Lawfully performs services in a state where an individual with practice privileges granted under s. 473.3141, F.S. has his or her principal place of business.
General Renewal Information

The Re-establishment Period

The Re-establishment Period is the two-year period for completing continuing professional education. Generally, this period is from July 1 of one renewal year to June 30 of the next renewal two years later. For initial licenses, this period begins on the date the license was issued and ends the third June 30th after the initial licensure date.

The Renewal Cycle

The Renewal Cycle is the period from October 1st to December 31st of the year in which your current, active license expires. This is the period in which you may renew your license for the following re-establishment period. The agency normally emails renewal notices during the last week of September. However, you may use the www.myFloridaLicense.com portal to renew your license online using a credit card.

The Renewal Notice

All renewal notices will be emailed to the email address associated with your DBPR Online Services account.  It is MANDATORY for you, the licensee, to keep up-to-date personal and professional information with DBPR. You will need to provide written and official documentation of the change you request.

Note: The Department no longer mails licenses upon issuance, as licensees can now print their license by logging into their secure online account with the Department.
In addition to new licenses, this process allows licensees to renew online and print the license at their convenience, as well as print duplicate licenses as needed without paying a fee.

Required Continuing Professional Education

CPAs are required to renew their license biennially (every two years).

Effective with the re-establishment period ending June 30, 2024, licensees must enter the details of all completed continuing professional education courses and upload the corresponding proof of completion documents to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s continuing professional education reporting tool located in the DBPR Online Services Portal. You must report your CPE prior to renewing. Failure to report CPE completion prior to renewal will prevent a licensee from renewing their license.

CPAs must still complete the required CPE by June 30th of their renewal year.  They have until July 31st to input course details and upload their proof of completion.

Documentation of course completion should be retained in the event the licensee is selected for the CPE audit.

Nonresident Florida licensees are encouraged to read about their CPE requirements and the reporting process at  Instructions for Out-of-State Licensees.

Completion of 80 total continuing professional education (CPE) hours with at least eight (8) hours in accounting and auditing, four (4) hours in Florida Board-approved ethics, and no more than 20 hours can be in behavioral subjects. These hours must be completed by June 30th of the renewal year.

There are two automatic extensions granted for Florida certified public accountants (Florida CPAs) who do not meet the requirements by June 30th.

  • The first automatic extension ends September 15th, provided the Florida CPA completes an additional 8 hours in accounting and auditing subjects. Therefore, the licensee would complete a total of 88 hours with at least 16 in accounting and auditing.
  • The second automatic extension ends December 31st provided the Florida CPA completes an additional 16 hours in accounting and auditing subjects. Therefore, the licensee would complete a total of 96 hours with at least 24 in accounting and auditing.

Failure to meet the renewal requirements by December 31st of the renewal year will result in the license reverting to delinquent status effective January 1 of the following year. Delinquent status licenses will revert to Null & Void after two years unless the license is reactivated or placed on Inactive status.

Information for Renewing Individual Current Licenses

Fee Reduction:  Licensees will receive a $5 ULA fee waiver and a 50% fee reduction this renewal period. This results in a $55 cost to renew.

You are encouraged to renew your license using your DBPR Online Services Account.

If you wish to mail your renewal form, Print a Blank Renewal Form, fill it out, attach your renewal payment, and mail it to:

Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

If mailing, please allow additional time for processing of your renewal request.

Renewal Detail:

To renew your Active license, submit your renewal request online and pay the renewal fee of $55. Continuing Education (CPE) is a requirement for active renewal. The current CPE requirements to renew are 80 hours of CPE, including at least 8 hours of accounting and auditing, 4 hours in Florida Board-approved ethics, and no more than 20 hours of behavioral subjects. You must enter your CPE hours and upload certificates of completion to the CPE Reporting Tool.  

If submitted after December 31, 2024, and received by March 15, 2025, the fee will be $330.

To renew your Inactive license, submit your renewal request online and pay the renewal fee of $55. Continuing education is not a requirement for an inactive license. If submitted after December 31, 2024, the fee will be $80.

Renewals with a Change of Status Application:

If your license is Active and you wish to renew Inactive, print and complete a copy of the renewal notice and check the inactive box. Submit your request along with payment of the $55 renewal fee. If submitted after December 31, 2024, the fee will be $130.

If your license is Inactive and you wish to reactivate your license, submit your renewal request and a Change of Status Form along with proof of completion of 120 hours of CPE (to include at least 30 hours of accounting and auditing, 8 hours in Florida Board-approved ethics and no more than 30 hours of behavioral subjects) and pay the renewal & reactivation fee of $250. If submitted after December 31, 2024, the fee will be $330.

License renewal information:

Please note a change of status application is required if you are inactive and want to reactivate your license or if you are renewing late (after March 15, 2025). The change of status application form can be obtained here:  Change of Status Form

A Change of Status form cannot be submitted online. Mail the completed form & the fee payment to:

Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Important Information:

  • Failure to renew a license by the December 31, 2024 deadline results in the license being delinquent, and a late fee is assessed.
  • It is a violation of Florida law for inactive or delinquent CPAs to practice public accounting, hold themselves out as CPAs or use the CPA designation.
  • Through March 15th, a delinquent license may renew by submitting payment of the renewal fee and late fee if their CPE Reporting requirements were met by the deadline.
  • After March 15th, a delinquent license must be reactivated to become current, active. To reactivate a delinquent license requires a change of status application, including submission of proof of completion of 120 hours of CPE (at least 30 hours of accounting and auditing, 8 hours in Florida Board-approved ethics, and no more than 30 hours of behavioral subjects) and payment of the renewal fee, reactivation fee, and delinquency fee.
  • State law requires you to maintain a current email and mailing address (address of record) with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Department will use the email address for all official correspondence to license holders. This includes important board information, service of process, etc. It is also recommended that you keep your telephone number current with the Department.
  • Florida Statutes require all professional licensees to self-report to the Department within 30 days of being convicted, or found guilty of, or having plead nolo contendere (no contest) or guilty to a crime in any jurisdiction. A licensee who fails to report this information may be subject to disciplinary action, including fines, suspension, or license revocation. To report, complete the criminal self-reporting form and mail it to the department at the address provided on the form.
  • If you have a compliance order with a past-due payment, your license will not be renewed until it has been made current.
  • Once you renew your license, a copy of your license will be sent to the email address associated with your online account. The Department will no longer print and mail initial, renewed, or duplicate licenses.
  • You may print your license using your secure online account with the Department. Please log in to your DBPR Online Services account to access your account and select “Print License Certificate” to print your license. Additionally, after you have created an online account and linked your license, you may view a copy of your professional license on your mobile device using the DBPR mobile application. You may download the DBPR mobile application from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once you have installed the application, select “My License” and enter the same login and password that you used to create your online account to view a copy of your professional license.
  • Visit MyFloridaLicense.com to create an account or access an existing account. There you will find license and renewal information, fees and their breakouts, license relationships as well as the opportunity to update personal data, apply online for additional licenses, and renew your license. For commonly asked questions, please use the “Ask Us” link at the top of the page, and if you need additional assistance, select the “Contact Us” link or call our Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395.
Information on Renewal/Change of Status for Delinquent Licensees

Delinquent renewal/change of status information for Delinquent licensees

THE LICENSE WILL BECOME NULL & VOID ON JANUARY 1, 2025, IF NOT RENEWED BY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2024.

YOUR RENEWAL NOTIFICATION MAY BE THE ONLY NOTIFICATION YOU RECEIVE PRIOR TO BECOMING NULL & VOID.

Delinquent/Active License renewal information:

If you are delinquent/active and want to reactivate your license as current/active, a change of status application is required. Change of Status Form

To reactivate your delinquent/active license to current/active, mail the following:

  • the completed reactivation/change of status application
  • the CPE Reporting Form
  • proof of completion of 120 hours of CPE (to include at least 30 hours of accounting and auditing, 8 hours in Florida Board-approved ethics, and no more than 30 hours of behavioral subjects)
  • payment of $330

To renew your delinquent/active license to current/inactive, print your renewal request and mark the box for inactive, then mail the renewal request and include the fee of $80.

Delinquent/Inactive License renewal information:

If you are delinquent/inactive and want to reactivate your license as current/active, a change of status application is required.  Change of Status Form.

To reactivate your delinquent/inactive license to current/active, mail the following:

  • the completed change of status application
  • the CPE Reporting Form
  • proof of completion of 120 hours of CPE (to include at least 30 hours of accounting and auditing, 8 hours in Board-approved ethics, and no more than 30 hours of behavioral subjects)
  • payment of $330

If your license is delinquent/inactive and you wish to renew as current/inactive, you may submit your renewal request and pay the fee of $80 using your DBPR Online Services Account. If you wish to mail it, print a blank renewal form, fill it out, and attach your renewal payment.

Mail applications and any other required documentation with your renewal fee payment to:

Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Important Information for Delinquent Licenses:

  • Failure to renew as inactive or reactivate a delinquent license by December 31, 2024, deadline results in the license being null & void on January 1, 2025, with no further action required by the Department.
  • The licensee is responsible for compliance with renewal dates regardless of receipt of notices. The CPA Division is not required to send delinquency notices.
  • State law requires you to maintain an email address and mailing address (address of record) with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Department will use the e-mail address for official communication with license holders. This includes important board information, service of process, etc. It is also recommended that you keep your telephone number current with the Department.
  • Florida Statutes require all professional licensees to self-report to the Department within 30 days of being convicted, or found guilty of, or having plead nolo contendere (no contest) or guilty to a crime in any jurisdiction. A licensee who fails to report this information may be subject to disciplinary action, including fines, suspension, or license revocation. To report, complete the criminal self-reporting document and mail it to the department at the address provided on the form. To obtain a copy of the form, go to MyFloridaLicense.com.
  • If you have a compliance order with a past-due payment, your license will not be renewed until it has been made current.

A copy of your license will be sent to the email address associated with your online account once you renew your license.  The Department will no longer print and mail initial, renewed, or duplicate licenses.

If you wish to print your license at any time in the future, you may do so using your secure online account with the Department. Please log in to your DBPR Online Services account to access your account and select “Print License Certificate” to print your license.

Additionally, after you have created an online account and linked your license, you may view a copy of your professional license on your mobile device using the DBPR mobile application. You may download the DBPR mobile application from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Once you have installed the application, select “My License” and enter the same login and password information that you used to create your online account to view a copy of your professional license.

Visit MyFloridaLicense.com to create an account or access an existing account. There you will find license and renewal information, fees and their breakouts, license relationships as well as the opportunity to update personal data, apply online for additional licenses, and renew your license. For commonly asked questions, please use the “Ask Us” link at the top of the page, and if you need additional assistance, select the “Contact Us” link or call our Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395.

Renew by Mail

Quick Links

Need Help?

All requests for publications, documents, forms, applications for licenses, permits and other similar certifications can be obtained by contacting the Customer Contact Center.

Roger Scarborough, Director
Division of Certified Public Accounting
240 NW 76th Drive, Suite A
Gainesville, FL 32607

Telephone: 850.487.1395
Facsimile: 352.333.2508

Certified Public Accounting